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	<title type="html"><![CDATA[Modartt user forum - Ideas to whten the ivory keys?]]></title>
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	<updated>2018-06-28T17:31:07Z</updated>
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	<id>https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=5797</id>
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			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Ideas to whten the ivory keys?]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?pid=954974#p954974"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[<div class="quotebox"><cite>jcfelice88keys wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Hmm, sounds like the elephant smoked too much if the keys have turned yellow.&nbsp; (Sorry, but I couldn&#039;t help passing on an old joke originated by pianist Victor Borge.)</p><p>First, you must ascertain that the key tops are actually made of ivory, instead of a plastic coating.&nbsp; True ivory keys were present on pianos made before about 1950.&nbsp; The coverings consist of two pieces of ivory per note:&nbsp; One on the wider &quot;natural&quot; part of the note, and the second half is in the narrow strip between the black notes.&nbsp; If you do not see a horizontal seam between these two sections of the keys (i.e., if they are &quot;one-piece ivory&quot;) then they are actually a form of plastic and not ivory.</p><p>A Google search in the technician&#039;s section of pianoworld will reveal that a very fine abrasive, such as toothpaste, will clean ivory keys.&nbsp; Under no circumstances, use any type of bleach to whiten natural ivory keys.&nbsp; Don&#039;t count on the sun&#039;s UV whitening the keys.&nbsp; Why not? If the sunlight hasn&#039;t lightened the keys in the past 50+ (more like 70+ years), then it won&#039;t help in the future.</p><p>Cheers,<br />Joe</p><p>P.S.&nbsp; Rather than relying on any number of opinions on the internet, it is probably best to telephone the advice of an experienced Piano Guild technician.</p></blockquote></div><p>Hahahah that is a very good joke lol. I will have to tell it to my friend.<br />Funny thing is that I did not see that horizontal line you speak of. I will have to inspect it further tommorow. </p><p>I will also talk to some piano technician because that is probably the best. Thank you for sharing the toothpaste thingy because I didnt find that when researching <i class="far fa-smile smiley"></i></p>]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[Debussy]]></name>
				<uri>https://forum.modartt.com/profile.php?id=5978</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2018-06-28T17:31:07Z</updated>
			<id>https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?pid=954974#p954974</id>
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		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Ideas to whten the ivory keys?]]></title>
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			<content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>Yes, it&#039;s always wise to consult a qualified piano technician before doing anything to an acoustic piano. The name(s) of the trade association(s) will, of course, vary according to your country of residence.</p>]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[dazric]]></name>
				<uri>https://forum.modartt.com/profile.php?id=5077</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2018-06-28T09:23:18Z</updated>
			<id>https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?pid=954965#p954965</id>
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		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Re: Ideas to whten the ivory keys?]]></title>
			<link rel="alternate" href="https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?pid=954964#p954964"/>
			<content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>Hmm, sounds like the elephant smoked too much if the keys have turned yellow.&nbsp; (Sorry, but I couldn&#039;t help passing on an old joke originated by pianist Victor Borge.)</p><p>First, you must ascertain that the key tops are actually made of ivory, instead of a plastic coating.&nbsp; True ivory keys were present on pianos made before about 1950.&nbsp; The coverings consist of two pieces of ivory per note:&nbsp; One on the wider &quot;natural&quot; part of the note, and the second half is in the narrow strip between the black notes.&nbsp; If you do not see a horizontal seam between these two sections of the keys (i.e., if they are &quot;one-piece ivory&quot;) then they are actually a form of plastic and not ivory.</p><p>A Google search in the technician&#039;s section of pianoworld will reveal that a very fine abrasive, such as toothpaste, will clean ivory keys.&nbsp; Under no circumstances, use any type of bleach to whiten natural ivory keys.&nbsp; Don&#039;t count on the sun&#039;s UV whitening the keys.&nbsp; Why not? If the sunlight hasn&#039;t lightened the keys in the past 50+ (more like 70+ years), then it won&#039;t help in the future.</p><p>Cheers,</p><p>Joe</p><p>P.S.&nbsp; Rather than relying on any number of opinions on the internet, it is probably best to telephone the advice of an experienced Piano Guild technician.</p>]]></content>
			<author>
				<name><![CDATA[jcfelice88keys]]></name>
				<uri>https://forum.modartt.com/profile.php?id=734</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2018-06-27T22:20:36Z</updated>
			<id>https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?pid=954964#p954964</id>
		</entry>
		<entry>
			<title type="html"><![CDATA[Ideas to whten the ivory keys?]]></title>
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			<content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>My friend has this older upright acoustic in his basement which he decided to renovate but the keys are way too yellow. </p><p>I was searching for the ideas on this topic and have found various conflicting opinions.. <br /><a href="https://musicgeargirl.com/how-to-clean-piano-keys/">Here</a> it says that you can use the white vinyl eraser to whiten the keys but I have also heard that that is not good because it can leave marks on the keys..</p><p>Also I have read that you can expose the keys to the sunlight and that they will naturally brighten from it? <br />But what if the direct sunlight damages them? The keys in question were in the basement for a long long time and didn&#039;t see the light of day ever during that time. So now I am afraid that the UV radiation can actually degrade them. </p><p>Overall the keys are in good condition but they have that yellowish patina formed on them because they were neglected for a long time. They weren&#039;t even cleaned while the piano was in use like 50 years ago.</p><p>What are your thoughts on this? Do you have any good idea how to do this? <i class="far fa-smile smiley"></i></p>]]></content>
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				<name><![CDATA[Debussy]]></name>
				<uri>https://forum.modartt.com/profile.php?id=5978</uri>
			</author>
			<updated>2018-06-27T21:25:33Z</updated>
			<id>https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?pid=954962#p954962</id>
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